The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-08-01
DON'T SASS" US.
Is What Tennessee Can Say to the
State Of Georgia
From tie Chattanooga Times.

Tall trees from little acorns grow. Ii the
truth were known it would be ascertained
that the recent excitement in Georgia over
the proposed sale of the Western and At
lantic railroad and its belongings, which
has aroused and divided the State from end
to end and been the main topic OF discus
sion in the State journals, was the big tree
from a seemingly small acorn, said acorn
being nothing more or less than promi-
nent Chattanooga attorney, large suih-
GENTLY, but small compared to the excite
ment occasioned by the sale OF the road, as
ordered by the Legislature OF Georgia.
The story CLEANED by reporter runneth
thus:
During February of the present year a
prominent Chattanooga wanted TO secure
the property on Georgia avenue and Tenth
street belonging to the State OF Georgia,
and desiring to deal direct with the execu-
tive head Of the State dispatched one of our
leading attorneys to Atlanta to negotiate
for the purchase with Gov. Gordon.
The lawyer waited upon his excellency in
the executive office in the capital and forth
with stated the object of his errand. Cow
Gordon, cautious IN all things, claimed he
could not enter into trade without first IT
ceiving an order from the Legislature for Il Q
sale of the property This brought about a
discussion regarding the title the State OF
Georgia bad to the property, and in the
conversation an idea dawned upon the mind
of the Chattanoogan which he straightway
gave to the governor in "brief style.
He said: 'The right of way of the
Western and Atlantic road, includ-
ing the Union depot grounds
of eleven acres, was con-
veyed by various parties to the State Of
Georgia The territorial limits of this State
were fixed when it was admitted into the
f.,.l g. H. - .lt L. .!..a~
title to any real estate beyond the limits as
fixed, would be to permit it to change its
boundary lines od tibitun,, which it cannot
do under the constitution Of the United
States without the consent of the Legisla-
lures of the two States concerned, as well as
Of Congress; further, if the State of Georgia
has the title to the land In question then it
hos absolute dominion and sover-
eighty over it; powers OF police regula-
t ons, etc, to the exclusion and wholly
independent of the State of Tennessee,
and If an offense should be committed by
any one on the land in question the offender
would have TO be held amenable therefore
to the laws of Georgia and not Tennessee,
as there can be but one sovereignty over the
same The question then naturally arises:
In whom is the title to the land vested9 1t
must revert to the original vendors to the
State OF Georgia, as the State cannot hold
it, else it must escheat to the State of
Tennessee-most likely to the latter
As the attorney concluded his remarkable
verbal brief, his distinguished auditor
evinced considerable interest and calculated
something like, "Well, there is considerable
in that, isn't therew Further along he evinced
surprise that the matter had not before been
put in this light by able legal lights who had
interests in the matter. Before the lawyer
left the Executive office messenger was
sent by the Governor to the Attorney Gen
eral requesting an immediate audience
Whether the Attorney General was wanted
relative to the matter the attorney did not
say, as he was Ignorant but in all proba-
bilty this was the main topic of converse
ton between the Governor and his legal adj
wiser. Conjecture would also point to the
fact that the Attorney General agreed with
the Chattanooga, and as a consequence the
Legislature of Georgia commenced scheme
to rid herself of her Chattanooga ''white
elephant"
The property in question is far from being
Insignificant. representing fully $l,OO0,00O,
not bad stake for Tennessee to gobble.
Upon what Is known as Georgia land
stands the Western and Atlantic depot, the
new block OF buildings recently erected on
Ninth street, the triangle at the corner Of
Teuth aud Georgia avenue and should tire
matter ever be given consideration it would
affect the union depot, the Nashville and
chattanooga uepOU, Uile ftlace Hotel, and
the entire tract of land known as the Nash
vile Flats, this property having been sold
by Georgia.
Never before has there been any attention
called to the validity of Georgias title and
the question aside from any litigation
which might arise is an interesting one le
gally. If the land is Georgia land it must
certainly be under the jurisdiction Of Geor-
gia and if such is the case the occupants are
Georgians. Atlanta can swell her States
population by including these residents in
the next census. Prohibitionists had also
better look out for in the event Tennessee
goes dry, Georgia lands on Ninth street will
be dotted with bars and the boys will take
trip to Georgia for drink
The Chattanooga lawyer referred to is
leading member of the Chattanooga bar
and the counsel for one of the largest cor
porations in the country. He is confident
his view is a correct one and claims that the
courts will sustain him in his opinion.